Shoe-fastener.



PATLNTLD MAY 3o, 1905. L. C. y'sTRI'NGHAL/L @L L. M. zLLL.

SHOE FASTENER. APPLIOATIONPILLD SEPT. 9, 1904.

Wiflimcooao No. l791,227.

. UNITED STATESl Patented May 30, 15905.

PATENT OEEICE.

ORANCrE.V NEW JERSEY.

SHOE-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters patent No. 791,227, dated May so,1905.

l Application filed September 9, 1904. Serial No. 223,921.

.T0 (2l/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, LEwIs CLAYTON STEINGIIAM and LUCIAN MITCHELL ZELL,citizens of the United States? residing at East Orange, New Jersey, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Fasteners, of which thefollowing is a specification.

Our invention relates to fasteners for general use, and isespeciallydesigned for application to shoes, slippers, gloves, andsimilar articles of wearing-apparel.

The object of the invention is. to provide a yielding fastener,dispensing with shoe-laces, glove-buttons, and the like, and by the'useof fahe fastener to aEord the wearer ease andcomort.

In general terms, the invention consists of a yielding central memberhaving a clasp or the like at each end and studs or their equivalentsfor engaging with the clasps.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein like referencecharacters refer to like parts, we have illustrated our :invention asapplied to a shoe; but itis to be understood that we do not wish tolimit ourselves to such restricted application, it being our intentionto apply the invention to general use.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a shoe, showingseveral of our improved fasteners secured thereto. Fig. 2 is a top planview of the fastener. Fig. 2a is a bottom plan view thereof. Eig. 3 is avertical sectional View of the fastener shown in Fig. 2. Eig. 4; is atop plan view of a modified form of fastener; and Fig. 5 is a view,partly in section, showing a stud secured to a pieceof material.

For convenience of description we-will refer tothe shoe shown in theaccompanying illustration in describing our invention.

In the drawings, l represents a shoe provided with a series of studs 2,adjacent the edge of the upper. Each stud consists of an upset lowerpart or shank 3 and a head 4, sharply beveled off at 5. Opposite thebeveled-off part of the head we provide a notch 6.

The fastener proper consists of a yielding ,member 7, supplied at eachend with an eyeleted casing or the like 8. In the drawings the form ofcasing illustrated consists of a hollow metal casing having an elongatedaperture 9 in the lower wall. The casings 8 are secured to the centralmember 7 in any appropriate manner. The central member 7 may be made ofany yielding material, such as rubber,` or, as yshown in Fig. 4, it mayconsist of a light spiral spring 7', covered or uncovered, as most`convenient.

In practice we usually secure one endof the fastener permanently to thematerial and leave the opposite end free. Y

The operation of the fastener is as follows: Assuming that one end issecured to the material, the opposite end is placed with the aperturedownward over the stud 2. Owing to the beveled head of the stud 2, thelatter easily enters the larger part of the aperture 9, and as thefastener is allowed to assume its normal position the head of the studwill slide into the elongation of the aperture and is thus 4 retained.

Havingnow described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, isl. A fastener comprising the combination ofa coiled spring, an eyeleted casing secured to each end thereof andstuds having beveled heads for entering said casings each of said headshaving a recess in one side thereof, substantially as described.

2. A fastener comprising` the combination of a yielding member, aneyeleted casing sel cured to each end thereof and studs having beveledheads for entering said casings,'each of said heads having a recess inone side thereof, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of the subscribing witnesses.

LEWIS CLAYTON STRINGHAM.. LUCIAN MITCHELL ZELL. Witnesses:

O'r'ro MUNK, E. READE.

